Cup dispenser



Feb. 5, 1952 RT 2,584,941

CUP DISPENSER Filed Aug. 4, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet I Feb. I, V FIG. 2.

gwuc/wkw 6 561265 TAUBERT ATTORNEY Feb; 5, 1952 TAUBERT 2,584,941

CUP DISPENSER 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 GEORGE. TAUBERT ATTO R N EY Feb. 5, 1952 TAUBERT 2,584,941

CUP DISPENSER Filed Aug. 4, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fl G. 4E 53 I ATToRNIV Feb. 5, 1952 Filed Aug. 4, 1948 FIG. 9.

G. TAUBERT CUP DISPENSER 5 Shets-Sheet 4 F GJZ.

zjvwe/wm GEORGE TAU BE RT ATTORN EY G. TAUBERT CUP DISPENSER Feb. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1948 Qwuwvtom Games TAUBERT ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1952 CUP DISPENSER George Taubert, Mount Vernon, N. Y., assignor to Dixie Cup Company, Easton, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application August 4, 1948, Serial No. 42,451

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a cup dispenser of a type that may be readily and cheaply manufactured, easily and efficiently installed, and durable in service.

While primarily designed for home or oifice use, the dispenser is formed and adapted for use most anywhere it may be desirable to support and present a stack of paper or similar cups from which individual cups will be convenient for use. In a device of the general character referred to, it is a fundamental characteristic that the same be of neat and attractive appearance,constructed of elements effectually connected together to constitute a container, and provided with means for securely supporting the same on the surface of a wall or the like. The main body of .the container may be forme of any suitable rigid or nearly rigid material.

It is, however, preferably made of a molded plastic which may be transparent so that the cups contained therein, which may be of striking color and design, or decoration, are in part visible through the container wall portions to correspondingly present a pleasing and artistic exposed and outside view of the cups being dispensed.

An ancillary feature of the device comprises novelmeans for operatively associating or connecting the parts of the containerso that the physically separate elements thereof, the means for fastening them together, and the instrumentalities for=supporting the same fromthe. wall or equivalent surface, are substantially concealed, that "is, so arrangediasto be hidden from'yiew exteriorly of the device.

Another feature resides in constructing the, container or dispenser so that it has a decorative outside appearance and is provided with vertical ribs on its inside surface which guide the stack. of cups and also serve to strengthen the wallsof the container. In the event the container is made of transparent material-these vertical ribs also serve to prevent scratching of the inner-surface of the container and thus prevent marring its appearance. In addition, short verticalribs are provided adjacent the lower open or discharge container through the open bottom, or the upper half may be removed while the stack of cups is dropped into the lower half after which the upper half is replaced.

The foregoing and other characteristics of the invention, together with the details thereof will be clear from the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, when considered in connection with the specific description hereinafter contained.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the dispenser.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the dispenser and its mounting illustrating some of the cups therein, and omitting others to better enable illustration of interior mechanical construction.

Figure 4 is alike sectional view in a plane at right angles to the section of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a horizontal section on the line 1--'l of Figure 3.

v Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a side view of the upper section of the dispenser, the lower portion of the same being shown in vertical section.

Figure 10 isa bottom view of the same.

. Figure-11.. is a side view of the lower section of the dispenser.

Figure 12 is a top view of the same.

Figure 13 is a vertical section on the 13-43 of Figure 5 to make clear the manner of fastening theupper and lower sections together.

Figure 14 is a rear view'of the meeting portions of the upper and lower sections.

Figure 15 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view on the line.I5-I5 of Figure 16. I

Figure 16 is an enlarged vertical section, of the lower end portion of the lower section of the dispenser.

line I parts in the several views, 30 designates the lower half or supporting section of an elongated cylindrical casing for containing and supporting a stack of cups such as customary nested paper cups, the upper half or section of the container being represented at 3|, closed at its top 32. These sections 30 and 3| are connected together as hereinafter pointed out, the upper section being operrat its lower end'33, and the lower section open both at its upper end 34 and lower or discharge end 35 so that when the sections are combined in unitary form the center thereof constitutes a continuous substantially uniform center cup-receiving chamber or passageway; H

The sections 30 and 3| of the container or dispenser are conveniently and preferably molded of clear plastic material so that cups as. .36. of; fanciful color or decorative type maybe seen through the wall of a dispenser and effect a nicety of appearance through and exteriorly of th'e -dis'penser.- The plastic-material especially suitable for the formation of the container is that styled Polystyrene 'because of its rigidity and strength and substantial-permanence against warpingcracking or -breaking;-as well as-lending itself-"to cheap and easy molding to the shape and conformation desired in facilitating the ready fitting and mountingof the sections of-the dispenser relative to each other;

For -the*sake 'of clearness in illustration, a

full stack of cups, as intended; not illustrated in thedrawings, Figures 3 and 4, but simply the top and bottom cups of the stack, the absent intermediate 'cups'ma'king way for a full showingof'the-inner'formation of the side walls of th'e 'upper and lower sections of the dispenser. Thelo'wer'section 30 of-th'e-dispenser, or the supporting section, as the'same has been termed, is designedto be permanently secured to the face of a wall or, for example, a woodwork thereof, fragmentarily illustrated at-3|; For this purposethesection 36 has a generally flatoblong panel 38, integrally united withandprojecting upwardly from the' ba'ck'edge ofth'e lowersection and provided with apertures or screw-holes 39"; 'for-th'e passage of-screws 4'0 infastening the lower section 30 to the wall-31hr the like,- the fastening screws 40 being arranged in spaced relationship in order to holdthe section in-true vertical position against any deflection or movement on 'th'e -wall.-

Below-this panel 38 is a vertical-rib-4| .of somewhat elongated character, bridgin the space between the tubular body of the section 3fl and the wall-and bearing against the wall to reinforce or steady the sectionwhendn use. The upper section 3| has a similar rib 42 arranged and functioning for substantially .the

same purpose.

Instead of employing screws, as 40, to support the dispenser one. wall," as analternative Jarrang'ement; the rear face of .the panel. has a-hollow "outer face 43' in which alflat piece of adhesive or strip of material to constitute an adhesive mounting, may be 'secured and moistened exteriorly to correspondingly secure itself and the dispenser section an to 'the wall or other support 31, as will be appreciated. Such ad-. hesive strip'is illustrated, for example, .at :44 in Figure 3.

Now,'referring to the 'interfittingof the .upper and lower "sections. 3|. and .30, whereby the I wardly from and are integral with the tubular formation 46 of the upper section 3|, and terminate in inwardly turned flanges 41 adapted to be slid behind and correspondingly interlock with the opposite grooved side edges 48 of the panel 38, integral with the secured lower or supporting section 39 of the dispenser. V

jQooperatingi with the in'terfitted portions 41 and? of the upper and lower sections, is the otherwise interfitting of the upper and lower sections together constituted by the flanged and recessed bottom edge 49 around the upper section 3|, receiving the complemental flanged portionsifl'fatthe top edge of the section 30.

"Itwill be-appreciated that the interfitting of these 'edges' of the two sections 30 and 3|, combined-.pwith the overlapped rear side edges 4! and 48, will securely hold the upper section 3| in stable-condition at all times without the necessity of furnishing fastening devices in addition to those already defined in'connection with'the secure mounting of the lower section 30 of the dispenser.

The lower seating and flanged portion: ofv

the uppersection 3| is formed with an integral belt-like porti'on orrapron 5| constituting a deshape shown being an upwardly receding stepped configuration which, twhile preserving the-"gemeraltransparency of the construction evenat the m'iddle portion. thereof, .will substantially. conceal the fastening tdevices. .thereabout, :for instancegth verticalitying bolts :andnuts.- passing through the lateral. plate portions :or extensions,- aintervenin'g .the apron 52 and the tubular .portion46' of -theupper. section 3|, and the complemental 'platerportionsx '55- of the lower. section:-

To substantially conceal the fastening..panel 38 l and: screws .thereim when :employed .either with, or in lieu 'of;.'rthe"adhesive strip 43',--the=top section-3|: hasza-zdepending wall 56 projecting downwardly therefromtinfrontof said panel 38,

spaced from :said .panel'iand iatrits: ends integral With the enduwailsl45, as at.5"|, Figure 6.

The bottomlportion'of :the wall-56 is open. or cut away. as at: 53 to accommodate -the, feet'ex'- tensions 59 projected slightly forwardly from: and forming portions of. vertical strengthening ribs .ifl arrangedyertically :on the inner :iace of the-panel 38'. The feet ends. of. these ribs :60. are adapted Ito connect with the upper end 8| of the lower section "30 ofv the dispenser. whereas,

the bottom ::edge of: the corresponding-back rib 42, on the uppera'section. :3 will rest. upon thetop edge 62. of the p'anel38 whentheupper sec-v tionis slid IOVEI'. and forced homev to the prede termin'ed position? on the: lower section 30-.

The cups; :heretofore :designated: 36, are custo'inarily 'fi'anged fat .their open ends, the mouth of the cups being.fof.;a:rdiameter slightly less than the diameter of the :cup ,chamber or l-passageway. withincthepombined sections 30 and 3 and ithe major portions.:of I the inter ors of both: sections arewmolded' with -a multiplicity of inwardly projecting :parallel: ribs 163' and 64' respectively; to- 'constitute -=free5 contact surfaces onzthe conrespondingzwallsz of the; dispenserasec-- 5. tions 30 and 3| to make easy descending of the stacked cups through the dispenser to near the open end 35 of the latter. l

The ribbing 63 of the interior correspondingly serves the additional and important'purpose of preventing undue or excessive rubbing of the cups over the inner surface of the container which might scratch 01' mar the appearance of the same as it is seen from the outside thereof through the transparent walls of the same.

.The stack of cups may be introduced into the dispenser open end upward through the bottom of the dispenser, to the extent that the dispenser willaccommodate the stack, and the stack is sup-ported and held in place by the specially formed ribs until cups are forcibly withdrawn from the stack through the open end 35 of the container in the following manner. The ribs 63 and 54 already referred to, are not intended as impediments to the downward lowering or feeding of the cups, but are essentially for the purpose of enabling free and easy passage of the cups and for preserving 'the inner face of the dispenser sections as set forth. However, there are somewhat similar enlarged ribs or extensions 65 at the lower end of the section 39 extending a substantial distance upwardly within the lower section, as appears particularly in Figure 16. These rib portions 65 are preferably not in a continuous series entirely around the interior of the section 30, as.

in the case .of the ribs 63 and 64, but-are rather in spaced series as suggested in Figures 12 and 19, where four series are illustrated for a special purpose, as will appear. The ribs of each series all terminate in a common plane to provide supporting shoulders 66 on which the stack of cups may be supported. Also, ribs of each series decrease in depth in opposite directions,

that is, circumferentially of the tubular section and from the central relatively deeper ribs to the outer relatively shallower ribs of the series. Therefore, when withdrawing a cup from the stack the wall of the cup in the four suggested areas will be gradually distorted, bent or depressed (see Figure 19) to servein resisting the removal of the cup orv holding the same in the container until forcibly withdrawn.

The bottom edge of the dispenser section 38 has an upwardly and inwardly tapering edge 61 adjoining a thickened rounded portion 68 of the wall of the section to add strength thereto and afford a smooth, forcible introduction of a stack of cups through the end into the container with all or most of the cups above the supporting shoulders 66 of the ribs 65, and with perhaps a few cups in position to be immediately withdrawn, unobjectionably distorted (Figure 19), to retain them in the dispenser until pulled therefrom.

To facilitate the feeding of the cups through the dispenser sections 35 and 3|, the inwardly projecting ribs thereof are appropriately beveled at their ends, that is, the lower ends of the ribs 63 beveled or rounded at 69 and the upper ends of the ribs 64 beveled or rounded at 10.

When the dispenser is mounted with its sections joined together, and supported on a wall or equivalent surface, it has the general appearance of continuity, that is, the upper and lower sections 30 and 3| appear to be continuous and passing through the intermediate beltlike or apron formation l-52 and both the upper and lower sections, as well as the depending or apron portion of the upper section are molded to constitute, when assembled together, a forwardly projected ornamental and strengthening enlargement or strip H extending throughout the front of the dispenser and over the closed top portion thereof. The portion- 12 of this enlargement or strip on the apron is well adapted to constitute a name plate or equivalent surface for additional ornamentation, if

desired, and the portions '13 extending along the lower section, and the portions 1 4 extending upwardly along the upper section and over the top thereof are grooved longitudinally as represented at 15 (Figures 2 and 13) for the reception of a pigment or coloring matter, if it is desired to so embellish the structure.

Recalling that the top or cap section 3| of the dispenser is simply slipped over the upper end of the lower section 30, with the interfitting flange portions 41 and 48 cooperating with the interfitting flange and groove portions 49 and 50, it is pointed out that the latter is shaped to conform to the contour of the enlargement or strip H andthese-parts as interfitted may then be fastened together through the medium of the bolts and nuts 53 at the opposite sides of the device, as hereinbefore described or by any other suitable fastening means. It is not necessary in the use of the dispenser that the upper and lower halves be fastened together. In fact, if the two halves are not so fastened the dispenser may be filled by removing the upper half while a new, stack of cups is dropped into the lower half.

Opposite extensions of the flanges 50 extend in parallel relationship towards the rear of the dispenser into the plate formation 55 (Figure 12) and this plate (Figs. 12 and 13) and the structure thereabove, including the superimposed top section, is abundantly supported by the tubular construction of the plastic lower section 36, supplemented, if found expedient, by the integral brackets 16 extending somewhat tangentially relative to the curved wall of the section 30, and formed integrally therewith and with the bottom of the plate 55 referred to (Figures 1 and 11).

It will be appreciated that by the construction of the dispenser herein referred to a device, of greatly pleasing appearance is constituted, one of practical and efficient operation for domestic 01' home use afforded, and one capable of long continuous use with practically no or minimum necessity for repair. There are practically no movable working parts of the apparatus, the only operation required being to introduce the stack of cups into the dispenser and remove a cup at a time by manual effort as desired. The inserted stack is supported on the ledge or rest constituted by the shoulders 66 on the relatively enlarged ribs or portions thereof at the discharge end of the dispenser, and held as they proceed to the exit opening 33 by the deflection or bending of the wall of the cup, by the correspondin ribs (Figure 19) to bind and hold the cups until intentionally withdrawn by a pull of the hand.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for a stack of drinking cups, comprising upper and lower superimposed tubular sections of plastic material, one of the sections at approximately the juncture of said sections having a rearwardly offset panel portion for securing the same to a supporting surface, the other section having rearwardly offset flange extensions adapted to interfit the said panel portlon, .and: means to afasten the-"panel: portion to tionsz-having; a; rearwardlv nset:- panel. porti n.

for: securing; the-same to; a supporting: surf ce; and, the; other section. having rearwardly offs t.

flangeextensionsadapted to-interfitwith :thesaid panel portion, and; fastening. means; for: aid.

panel, portion, in combination with a: reinforcin partition extending-z laterally from the. upper: section o and& connected with the;,fian e. xten..-- signs.

3. A dispenser for astacltzof drinking, cups, comprising upper and lower superimposed tubular sectionsof plastic materiaLone of 'thersecrtions at approximately theyjuncture of saidisecr tionshaving a. rearwardly: oflsetzrpanel portionf r securing the; same to-az pporting; urfaces and the other sectionhaving rearwardlyiofifiet: flange extensions adapted; to; interfit, with the; said panel portion, and; fastening -mea;ns for; said panel portion, in combination with arc nforcing partition extending. laterally; from the; upper; section to and connected with the fiangeextensions, said partition havingopenings at.its .lower edge portion, and verticalribs onthe. inner facev of thepanel adjacent to. and enga i ng. .the par-- tition andiormed, to projectin part throughv said openings and secured-to thelowe section,

4. A dispenser for a stack. of drinking cups, comprising upper and lower superimposed tuhu lar sections, one of the, sectionsatapproximately thejuncture of saidsections having an integral rearwardly ofiset portion for; securing thesame to a supporting surface, and,. the other section having complemental integral, portions to inter--v fit with said rearwardly, offset portion to main: tain the sections together, and upwardly, anddownwardly extending ribs at the. back of: the

upper and lower sections'above and below said;

ofiset securing portion adapted" to afford bearing surfaces against thesaid supporting surface.

5. A dispenser for a stack of drinking cups, comprising-upperand'lower superimposed tubular sections; one of 'thesectionsat-approximately the juncture of saidsections having an integral portion oiiset relative to the rear-of-thedispenser for securing the same to-asupporting surface,- the other section having complemental integralinterfitting portions housingsaid securing means, the interior of said'sections beingof substantially: circularcress-section throughout the length ofthe sections and the'ofiset securing means and housing portion being lateral projections formedto engage the supporting surface, and the interfitting portions lusing-said= securing; means i in cluding oppositely projected flanged; members adapted to engage. behind. edges ,of: the= securing.

means.

6. A dispenser, for a, stack of drinking; cups...

comprising..-a-,body.of tubular form, said body:

being providedwith; integral. spaced longitudi-,

nally extendin ribs .wherebyisaidcups areiheld outoi contact-with thebody as the, cupspassrto varying. depth; decreasing toward the opposite ends (lithe-series.

7:; A: dispenserfor a stackof drinking. cups comprising; upperand lower tubular sections, the upper sectionbeing provided with an outwardly extending; circumferential flange at its lower end. an apron extending-g downwardly and outwardlyfrom said flange and having a seat in its lower-edge, the lower section being provided-with an, outwardly; extending circumferential flange.- spaced from-the flange. of the upper sectionand reeive.d in the seatof the apron, a panel atthe rear oi;said; dispenser for-securing the same to a support-end extending vertically from the flange; ofthe-lower section, said apron including rear-.

wardly: extending. portions to house said panel and having interlocking engagement therewith,

ndmeans passing through theflanges. to secure.

the sections. together.

A: dispenser for a stackof drinking. cups. comprisingupper and lower tubular sections the' upper section being provided with an outwardly. extending circumfercntial'fiange at its lower. end, anapron extending downwardly and outwardly.

from said" flange. and having a seat in its low-.

er edge, the lower section being provided with an outwardly, extending circumferential flange spacedfrom the flange of the upper section and received-in the seat. or" the apron, apanel at the. rear of saiddispenscr for securing the same to.-

a support: and extending vertically from the fiangeoftherlower section, vertical ribs formed as a part of the panel and extending inwardly therclrom, said apron including rearwardly extending portions. to house said panel and have interlocking. engagement therewith, reinforcing.

partitionsconnected to the rearwardly extending portions of theapron and positioned to be engaged'by the ribs of the panel, and mean passing through the flanges to secure the sections together.

GEORGE TAUBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 1,043,854 Luellen r, Nov, 12, 1912 l,65l;857 Wilkinson Dec. 6, 1927 2441682 Carew Dec. 7,, 1938 

